25 schoolkids fall ill after measles vaccination in Assam

Vaccination
A health officer said the vaccine was approved by the World Health Organisation and is of high quality. Representative Image

Hailakandi, Assam: At least 25 school students complained of nausea, stomach ache and fever after being administered measles vaccine on Saturday in Assam's Hailakandi district, officials said.

The students of Sahabad ME Madrasa under Katlicherra revenue circle were administered measles-rubella (MR) vaccine just after the midday meal following which several of them complained of nausea, fever, stomach ache and vomiting, Hailakandi deputy commissioner Adil Khan said.

The students were taken to the nearby Katlicherra Block Public Health Centre for treatment. However, their condition is stated to be stable and there was no reason to panic, officials said.

Joint director of Health Services Avijit Basu said that six students have been hospitalised while the rest have been kept under observation and would be discharged soon.

The Deputy commissioner has ordered a probe into the incident to be conducted by the joint director of health services and district immunisation officer.

Basu said he had examined the vaccines administered to the 120 students of the school in the afternoon and found them to be in order.

District immunisation officer (DIO) K Thambalsena said that there are no serious cases and condition of the affected was stable.She said the MR vaccine was approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is of high quality.

The DIO said that common side effects of MR vaccination were fever, rashes, nausea and dizziness. She said the vaccination will continue for the next couple of weeks till all the children in the age group of nine months and 15 years are vaccinated.

As many as 2.15 lakh children of 1,485 schools in the district will be covered under the MR vaccination drive.

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